Montessori Children's House (Pinole, CA)

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I am super happy parent writing to tell you more about Montessori
Children's House of Pinole. This year they are celebrating their 30th
year!!! Alumni who are now grown people with children of their own
routinely stop by to see how Ms. Kathy and the class are doing.

I was a very nervous first time mom who interviewed at least 10
pre-schools (all of them Montessori or Waldorf inspired). I wanted the
best of everything, and couldn't fathom just a ''babysitter'' for my
very curious and ready-to-learn 2 year old.

Pros:
* Clean, Bright, Dedicated classroom that is attached, but very
separated from the house.
* Huge backyard and playground
* Literally tons of Montessori and educational toys that rotate every
1-2 months with the theme. No commercial figures like Disney or even
Sesame Street.
* Multi-generational teachers 2 older, and 2 younger. So the kids
benefit from both experience and youthful energy.
* Male and female teachers (great for boys)
* Kids and teachers of all hues and cultures. They celebrate any and
all holidays.
* Teacher:student ratio is usually amazing with 2-3 teachers with the
group, sometimes only 2-6 kids (14 is max)
* Children don't need to be potty-trained (they encourage whatever
stage the child is in)
* Just off Pinole Valley Road exit on I-80, easy commute, easy parking,
safe cul-de-sac
* Schedule is flexible with days and times, afternoons are not very
full. Part-time or Full time, breaks on tuition for paying in advance.

Cons:
* We must bring our own food- which could be a plus if your child needs
something specific.
* They follow something like a public school schedule, so there are
lots of ''days off'' during the year. But there is always a great
change to the classroom when we come back after break.

After visiting so many very expensive Montessori and Waldorf options
(which turned out to be almost entirely Caucasian- I'm guessing
because of the price), we felt this one was the best value. The least
expensive, least snobby, best preparation for ''real'' life, with the
best parts of a Montessori education built in.
Sarah C

May 2008

We are starting to look at preschools for our daughter and am
interested to find any current reviews on Children's House Montessori in Pinole.
We live in Hercules and are looking for a preschool in the local
area for our soon to be 2 year old for part-time.
Thank you.

Montessori Children's House of Pinole is a dream come true for
any family. My daughter attended for two years, from aged 3 to
5. My 2 year old will begin attending when he is 3.

This program embodies the Montessori philosophy that a child is
a willing learner and will learn if given proper support and a
facilitating environment, including supportive teachers.

The two teachers, Kathy and June are incredible. Educated up to
their eyeballs, both holding Master's degrees relating to
education and children (June is British and I don't recall the
exact title of her Masters), plus full Montessori training and
certification. On top of this they have each taught for between
20 and 30 years and have worked together for fifteen years, so
there is an incredible rapport and sophisticated teamwork that
keeps things flowing smoothly and warmly.

The space itself is great. It is in a converted home on a quiet
cul de sac. The classroom is colorful, text rich, bright, sunny
and full of great diagnostic toys and art. The playarea is
large and there are grassy areas and woodchipped play structure
area. There is nothing for them to get in trouble for trampling
and nowhere for them to go that is not in view and supervised.

The teachers are very proactive so there are few behavioral
issues,when they do come up they are handled well. I've seen
the program be successful for kids who are gifted and those with
developmental disabilties. The school draws people from various
cities in the east bay and feeds into both local and private
schools, including many to Windrush and Prospect Sierra. It is
a nice parent/family community of lawyers, poets, teachers,
business owners, stay-at-home moms, mechanics- basically very
ecclectic middle class.

True to the idea of kids first, the program has a range of times
and days you can attend, from two days a week for three hours up
to all day, 9-5, five days a week.

You will not find snottiness, hype, marketing, fundraising,
staff turnover, coldness or profit-first thinking. This place
is the real deal. The kids are always happy to be at school (as
the are the younger sibs whose parents must daily pry them from
the schools doorjamb while the kids protest having to leave. It
is ALL about the kids and their learning and playing and having
a sweeter childhood for the addition of these brilliant women
and their great program.

Happy to talk to anyone about my experience with MCHP!
E

Jan 2005

Re: Preschools and coops in Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo?
Hi, I didn't see the original post, but I can highly recommend
Montessori Children's House of Pinole. The director, Kathy
Maloney, has run the school for 23 or so years (out of her
home), and her co-teacher has been with her for 12 years. I
have spent many hours in their classroom, and they function
wonderfully as a team--the way they work with 10-12 kids
(including some high-energy boys) is just masterful! They have
all the great Montessori materials and use Montessori methods,
and yet the classroom is not overly structured or too ''quiet.''
They take kids from 2.5 to 6 years, and it is a richly diverse
bunch of kids and parents. Go for a visit and see!
Cheri

Re: New to Pinole - which preschool? (Jan 2002)
Kathy Maloney runs the Montessori Children's House on Johanna
Ct. My sister used to work for her and has nothing but
highly positive things to say both about Kathy and the
program. I heard another Montessori teacher refer to it
as the "only truly Montessori" program in the area.
Good Luck!
Jody